Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei has tragically died after being set on fire by her ex-boyfriend in Kenya. The shocking incident, which occurred on Sunday, has left the sports world and many others reeling with grief and anger.
Donald Rukare, the chief of Uganda’s Olympic Committee, confirmed the devastating news on Thursday. Rukare shared in a post on X (formerlyTwitter), “We have learned of the sad passing on of our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei… following a vicious attack by her boyfriend.”
Cheptegei, 33, sustained severe burns covering 80 percent of her body, according to Dr. Wilson Aruasa, the acting head of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret, Kenya, where she was being treated.
Despite efforts to save her life, her condition deteriorated rapidly. “All her organs failed last night,” a medical professional at the hospital revealed on Thursday, confirming the extent of her injuries and the futile fight to keep her alive.
The tragic event unfolded at Cheptegei’s home in Endebess, a town in the western county of Trans-Nzoia, Kenya. According to police reports, Cheptegei’s ex-boyfriend, identified as Dickson Ndiema Marangach, allegedly doused her with petrol before setting her on fire. The horrifying attack was witnessed by one of Cheptegei’s daughters, who recounted the terrifying moments to local media.
“He kicked me while I tried to run to the rescue of my mother,” the young girl said in an interview with The Standard, a Kenyan newspaper. Her desperate cries for help eventually alerted a neighbor, who attempted to extinguish the flames with water, but the fire had already caused extensive damage.
Marangach also sustained injuries during the incident, suffering burns on 30 percent of his body. He is currently in custody, as investigations continue into the attack that has shocked the region.
This incident is eerily reminiscent of other recent tragic events involving female athletes in Kenya. In 2021, Damaris Mutua, a Kenyan-born athlete, was found dead in Iten, a town renowned as a training ground for world-class runners. That same year, record-breaking Kenyan runner Agnes Tirop was discovered stabbed to death at her home in Iten. Her estranged husband is currently on trial for her murder, though he has denied the charges.
These cases highlight a disturbing trend of violence against women in the region. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, 34 percent of women in the country have experienced physical violence since the age of 15, a sobering statistic that underscores the ongoing struggle for women’s safety and rights.
Cheptegei’s death has sent shockwaves through the sports community, especially since she had recently competed in the marathon at the Paris Olympics, finishing in 44th place. Her promising career and life were cut short in a senseless act of violence, leaving behind a grieving family and a nation in mourning.